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Materials Science news
Mirror-image molecules are difficult to separate from their counterparts, but a new catalytic method might be the answer
Just like gloves, molecules can have left- and right-handed—or mirror-image—forms. Because the left- and right-handed molecules are still very similar, scientists have had trouble separating them from each other. But a team ...
Controlled vapor treatment guides molecules into highly oriented soft quasicrystals
Molecules can spontaneously organize into complex, ordered structures through a process known as self-assembly. Among these structures, soft quasicrystals display unusual patterns that do not repeat regularly like conventional ...
Materials Science
Oct 20, 2026
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Fluorescent reaction maps reveal how catalyst activity changes with operating conditions
Catalysts spur chemical reactions used across industries, from producing fuels and medicines to manufacturing chemicals and treating pollutants. Improving their performance requires understanding where and how reactions happen ...
Analytical Chemistry
Oct 20, 2026
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New analytical method reveals what happens inside tiny molecular frameworks
Tiny magnetic probes can be used to investigate the chemical forces at work inside the pores of molecular framework compounds, but until now, this had only been possible to a limited degree. A new method developed by a team ...
Analytical Chemistry
Oct 20, 2026
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Synthetic molecules self-assemble into triple helices with new control method
Researchers at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, have developed a new strategy for programming synthetic molecules to self-assemble into precisely defined three-dimensional structures. The study brings scientists a step ...
Biochemistry
Oct 19, 2026
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Simpler recycling process recovers pure raw materials from acrylic glass without solvents
Large quantities of acrylic glass are used worldwide in a wide range of applications, from windowpanes and car taillights to furniture. The polymer is also known by the brand name Plexiglas. All too often, acrylic glass still ...
Polymers
Oct 19, 2026
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Molecular pendulum shuttles protons to enable rapid hydrogen production in enzymes
Nearly all metabolic processes require protons—positively charged hydrogen atoms. Although these are abundant in the cellular fluid, the biocatalysts involved depend on mechanisms for efficiently capturing protons and transporting ...
Biochemistry
Oct 19, 2026
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New 'hunter-killer' chemistry captures and destroys forever chemicals
They can turn up in a nonstick frying pan, a waterproof jacket, a takeout food wrapper or the foam used to fight fires. Known as "forever chemicals," these substances are ubiquitous in modern society, prized for their extreme ...
Polymers
Oct 19, 2026
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Giving AI a 'crystal clear' view of the materials world by mapping geometry to text
In principle, artificial intelligence could make finding the right material for an application as simple as ordering dinner: Scientists would tell a large language model what they want, and it would serve them the perfect ...
Analytical Chemistry
Oct 19, 2026
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'24/7 unmanned synthesis platform' uses robots and light to produce drug candidates
Even when AI designs molecules with potential as medicines, drug development can be delayed if the process of producing them is slow. KAIST researchers have developed an "unmanned synthesis platform" that uses synthesis robots ...
Analytical Chemistry
Oct 19, 2026
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A new way to make iridium catalysts for hydrogen production last longer
There are many ways to produce hydrogen, but not all of them are environmentally friendly. Water electrolysis is a promising method that uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen without producing carbon dioxide ...
Analytical Chemistry
Oct 19, 2026
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Sunlight gives biodiesel byproduct a second life as hydrogen and valuable chemicals
Australian researchers and international collaborators have demonstrated a solar-driven approach to convert glycerol, a low-value byproduct of biodiesel production, into hydrogen and higher-value chemicals. Using advanced ...
Materials Science
Oct 16, 2026
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New alloy design strategy combines strength and ductility by timing hardening mechanisms
Structural metals used in engineering projects are expected to have both high strength and high ductility: the ability to withstand heavy loads and deform before failure. Achieving both of these properties at the same time, ...
Materials Science
Oct 16, 2026
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16
Glowing liquids could help protect products from counterfeiters using distinctive ultraviolet light signatures
Researchers at Nottingham Trent University have developed room-temperature liquids containing chemical elements that produce distinctive patterns of light. They say the materials could provide a flexible new approach to optical ...
Materials Science
Oct 16, 2026
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11
Duct tape kept out more floodwater than sandbags in laboratory tests
Could a cheap roll of duct tape help protect your home from flooding? New research suggests it could make a surprisingly big difference.
Materials Science
Oct 16, 2026
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Fully automated testing of bulk metals paves the way for AI-driven materials development
Developing stronger and tougher structural metals such as steel requires exploring an enormous range of processing conditions. Even for the same alloy composition, heat treatment can dramatically change the material's microstructure ...
Analytical Chemistry
Oct 16, 2026
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11
Transferable chemical prediction approach may help reduce trial and error
Chemical predictions can help prevent unwanted reactions or improve the efficacy of industrial processes, among other applications, but predicting how chemicals interact can be costly and time-consuming—especially because ...
Analytical Chemistry
Oct 16, 2026
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Electron density check offers better starting point for chemistry's most difficult metal molecules
New materials and catalysts have the potential to transform everything from food production and medicine to batteries and stainless steel. Computer simulations help scientists narrow down promising candidates before testing ...
Analytical Chemistry
Oct 15, 2026
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AI turns scrap impurities into useful ingredients for stronger recycled iron
About 2 billion metric tons of metal are produced worldwide every year to meet the demands of industry, infrastructure and the energy sector. Much of this production still relies on primary raw materials, contributing to ...
Materials Science
Oct 15, 2026
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Waste plastics become molecular sponges that capture water from air
Discarded plastic packaging materials, old CDs and even LEGO bricks can be transformed into materials that capture significant amounts of moisture from the air. Materials chemists Anastasiia Naryshkina, Paul Schweng and Robert ...
Polymers
Oct 14, 2026
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More news
A single carbon atom stitches flat molecules into 3D structures
Patterned X-rays map 3D chemical structures faster with fewer measurements
New light-emitting organic materials could enable deep-tissue bioimaging
New catalyst enables lower-temperature methane conversion with sustained performance
'Mix-and-match' material's properties can be tuned by changing its metallic 'recipe'
Chemists uncover the true active surface of nickel catalysts
Could grass become the clothes of the future?
New electrode design breaks key barrier to greener ammonia production
Real-time oxygen measurements expose hidden losses in solar water splitting
Nearly 10,000 mapped reactions reveal overlooked steps in CO₂-to-fuel conversion
Other news
Quantum interference traps electron waves in metal for first time
The same novel can spark very different inner worlds in readers
Sapphire-grown semiconductor film sets bandgap record
Gut bacteria use food cues to help time nutrient absorption, study finds
Algae-powered soft robot arm uses light to grasp and lift small objects
Tetrahedral iron can help clays exchange electrons about ten times faster
Uranium forms rare triple bond with carbon in newly isolated compound
Counteranions reshape molecular packing to tune magnetism in copper complexes
Music can enhance the flavor of your food
Raised brows and a slow blink make speakers look more confident
AI listens to bee buzzes to monitor activity without lethal traps
New optogenetic tool inhibits activity in neurons and heart muscle cells
